People’s Party (PP) Secretary General Paul Maulidi has denied that the party is in an alliance with Aford [the Alliance for Democracy] whose chairperson Enock Katola Chihana is in the Cabinet of President Joyce Banda.

Chihana, who is contesting for Rumphi central constituency on Aford ticket on parliamentary race has been claiming that his party is in alliance with PP and that people should vote for him as lawmaker on Aford ticket and Banda as president.

But Maulidi has dismissed that, saying PP has its parliamentary candidate in Rumphi central, Norman Nyirenda.

Chihana’s billboard

Nyirenda’s billboard

“We are not in any alliance with Aford. Aford wants to enter into an alliance, but we have not formalised anything,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nyirenda has also erected a huge billboard telling people to vote for PP parliamentary and presidential candidate.

Paradoxically, Nyirenda’s Billboard is a few metres away from Chihana’s.

Chihana insisted there is an alliance with PP and that the ruling party will dump its candidate to support him.

“Of course there is need for a memorandum of understanding that will specify the modalities. At the moment Aford is solely working with President Banda only,” Chihana told Nyasa Times.

But some PP sources said Chihana has a working relationship with Banda as a member of her cabinet.